Rob andrew today emerged as one of the favourites to take over from Sir Clive Woodward if, as expected, the England coach makes the astonishing and unprecedented switch to football.

With massive speculation that Woodward would hand in his notice to the Rugby Football Union today because of his alleged frustration at not getting his own way with the Premiership clubs about release of players for training sessions, Andrew's name has been widely linked as a possible successor, along with Gloucester's Nigel Melville and current deputy coach Andy Robinson.

However, the Falcons boss, who has been, with Newcastle since 1995, outlasting no fewer than four Newcastle United managers during that time, diplomatically appeared to distance himself from the job, describing it as pure speculation and stating he had a contract with Newcastle until 2007 and that he intends to honour it.

However, in the wake of Lawrence Dallaglio's retirement from international rugby, Andrew didn't hesitate to push the claims of Jonny Wilkinson as his successor in the role of England captain.

"Jonny Wilkinson is the man to lead the next generation of England players into the 2007 World Cup," said Andrew.

"I would have no hesitation in giving him the job now in time for the November internationals.

"In addition the time is right to blood new faces into the England side as there are only three years left to the next World Cup and that's not a lot of time to get the necessary experience into a new England team.

"You don't get international experience sitting on the sidelines and experience is what counts when it comes to winning the World Cup.

"The clock is ticking and you have to build the team around a core of experienced players young enough to be still at their best in 2007 and Jonny is the man to lead them."